Photo Coverage: MAGIC/BIRD Starry Theatre Arrivals

MAGIC/BIRD opened on Broadway last night, April 11. BroadwayWorld was on hand throughout the evening and brings you photo coverage of the starry theatre arrivals below! 

MAGIC/BIRD, directed by Tony Nominee Thomas Kail (Lombardi, In The Heights), reunites Lombardi playwright, Oscar Winner and Emmy Nominee, Eric Simonson on MAGIC/BIRD, a new American Play chronicling the intertwined life stories of two of the most influential figures in sports and pop culture of the past 25 years, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Joining actors Kevin Daniels as Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Tug Coker as Larry Bird, are Deirdre O'Connell as Georgia Bird/Shelly/Patricia Moore, Peter Scolari as Red Auerbach/Jerry Buss/Pat Riley, Rob Ray Manning Jr. as Michael Cooper/Henry Alvarado/Frank, and Francois Battiste as Jon Lennox/Ron Baxter/Willy. The creative team is David Korins (Set), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Paul Tazwell (Costumes), Nevin Steinbert (Sound) and Jeff Sugg (Projections), who weaves historic NBA film footage throughout the play.

At the heart of one of the fiercest rivalries in sports history, two of the greatest basketball players of all-time battled for three championships, bragging rights, and the future of their sport in the 1980's. Johnson and Bird electrified the nation on the court, reinvigorated the NBA, and turned their rivalry into one of the greatest and most famous friendships in professional sports.

This is the second original project undertaken by Kirmser and Ponturo. Together they share a common vision of bringing new, original plays to a wide, diverse audience of theatergoers, initially combining the drama of sports and entertainment through Kirmser Ponturo Group. Lombardi and now MAGIC/BIRD are the first two products of that vision.

The Longacre Theatre was built in 1913 by H. H. Frazee, a Producer/Manager who was the owner of the Boston Red Sox's and the individual who sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. He later sold the theater to The Shuberts in 1919.

For more information visit www.magicbirdbroadway.com.

Photo credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Angela Christian & Tommy Kail

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson

Larry Bird

Larry Bird

Larry Bird & Magic Johnson

Larry Bird & Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson & Wife

Tamara Tunie

Tamara Tunie & Gregory Generet

Jeffrey Donovan

Jeffrey Donovan

Tamara Tunie & Jeffrey Donovan

Larry Bird & Magic Johnson

Larry Bird

David Stern

David Stern & Larry Bird

Magic Johnson, David Stern & Larry Bird

Magic Johnson & Family

Earl Monroe

Earl Monroe & Guest

Gregory Generet & Tamara Tunie

Didi Conn

Dule Hill

John McEnroe

John McEnroe & Son

John Starks

Penny Marshall

David Stern & Penny Marshall

Rooney Mara

Larry Bird, Pat Riley & Magic Johnson

Pat Riley & Wife

Pat Riley & Wife